Automobile jack



Aug. 27, 1935. T. J. TRAVIS AUTOMOBILE JACK l Filed April 27, 1935 Patented Aug. 27, 1935- l AUTOMOBILE JACK l Thomas J. Travis. Metairie Ridge, La.

Application April 21, 1935, serial No. 18,655

A somma. (ol. asi-1) This invention has relation to4 that type of jack which substitutes for manual power, the power of the car engine to raise and-prop up the axle to enable a wheel to be changed, and the object of the invention is to simplify and Yimprove the device to render it durable and simple in construction, asmore fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the rear end of an automobile showing my prop or jack in position 'to prop up the car 'far enough to permit the wheel to be removed;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation showing the jack or prop swungupwardly to non-use, out-of-the-way position; A

Fig. 3 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of the device shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5'are views of details. Referring to the drawing annexed by reference numerals, I is a leg or prop having a ball l I at one end to which is connected, in the manner to form a ball-and-socket joint, a foot-piece'A I2. The other end of this leg is shaped to fit between a pair of ears I3 carried by a block I4 which is adapted to be afiixed'in any suitable manner to the axlecasing or to a spring. In the present instance, the block I4 is shown as fastened to the axle casing by means of screw bolt I5.

The prop or leg I0 is pivotally mounted between the ears I3 by means of a horizontal pivot l I5 which passes through holes in the ears I3 and a hole in the prop. One end I'I of this pin is bevelled off to facilitate its insertion in theI holes, and in order to lock the pin movably inplace, I use a spring collar I8 which fits in an annular groove in the upper end of leg I0 and normally tends to clasp the pin I6, an annular groove being formed in the pin to receive thisrsplit ring I3. In this way, I avoid the necessity of using a headed bolt 'having a nut for fastening the pin in, place, while at the same time the pin may be driven out, if it be desirable to dismantle the device.

A` pair of retractile springs I9 connects the outer end of the prop IU to the anchoring block I III, the ends of these springs being fastened respectivelyto the block and the prop by means of pins 20. The pins are so positioned withreference to the pivot pin I6 that when the prop is swung upwardly to its non-use position, as shown in Fig. 2, these springs will lie above the center of said pivot I6 and thus normally hold the prop or leg in its upper, non-use position, in which position it will be `practically h orizontal.A -But when the prop is swung downwardly to be put into use, the springs pass downwardly over the center of pin I6 and thus exert their normal tendency to swing the outer end of the prop downwardly toward the road-bed. To limit the movement of the prop, I provide the prop with two shoulders 2i which are adapted to abut the lug 22 carried by the block I4 these shoulders and the lug obviously limit the upward swing of the prop and also limit its swing downwardly so that it cannot swing beyond the vertical.

. For the purpose of locking the leg in its horizontal position, I provide a ball latch 23 within a recess in -block I4 and normally pressed toward the leg by means -of an expansible spring 24 mounted in a'recess in' block I4. This ball normally runs on an arcuate surface 25 formed on ,the adjacent .end of the leg, this surface ,being described from the center of the pivot pin I6.

Ihe purpose of this spring actuated latch ball 23 ls to support the leg in its non-use position in such manner that it will not jar loose and vibrate or rattle, but so that a slight downward pressure by the hand ,on the outer .end of the leg will release the catch and permit the leg 'to be swung downwardly'far'enough to carry the springs over center and permit the springs to automatically swing the leg toward the road-bed.

When it is desired to elevate one of the wheels for anyl purpose, I place behind the same a small ramp V26, then throw the prop downwardly far enough to put its springs in action and cause f its foot-piece I2 to bear upon the road-bed,`and then the car is backed so as to carry its adjacent wheel up to the top-of the ramp, whereupon the prop will automatically swing downwardly and forwardly to a vertical position, where it will serve as a prop tosupport the wheel oithe road. After the desirable job `is done and the wheel Vis replaced, the ramp is reversed and placed in front of the wheel tire and thecar is driven for# wardly;V and when the wheel reaches the top of the ramp, the foot-piece of the leg will be raised slightly oif the road-bed and then asvthe car moves on' in a forward direction and the wheel drops on the ramp, the leg will strike the road-bed and be .swung backwardly (owing to the forward motion of the car and the engagement ot the foot with the ground) until the springs are carried across center, whereupon the leg will normally swing up to horizontal position and be latchedin that position. It will be understood that the ramp is suillciently high to lift the car far enough to permit the leg to swing4 said pivot and .thus hom the prop leg m its 2 p to a verticalfposition, i.Ie. 'until' its lower stop 2l strikes solidly against the lug 22. The ramp 26 may beused as a pad for the accelerator pedal "by providing a recess 21 in its underside, as-

shown in Fig.4.

The universal support for-pad i2 isadvanta gemis in that it will adjust itself to the road-bed surfacey readily and therefore provides a substantial, secure support for the prop leg. Forconvenience in inserting the spring ring 'Il in position, I provide -the. top surface of the prop' leg with a slot 28.

Iclaim:

1; An automobielen of the type ses man,`

a supporting member and means Afor attaching it to a partof the car, said supporting member carrying'l a pair of ears, a prop leg pivotallrr mounted; between said ears and provided with a pair of separated stop shoulders, said supporting member being provided vwith cooperating shoulders,V asset forth, and a retractile spring `connecting the free end of the prop legto the supporting member at a point beyond said pivot, the

pontof connection of this spring being such .e

that when. the prop leg is swung to its upward position thespring will be above the center of upper non-use position, and when -swung downwardly to use position the spring will be positioned to the opposite side of the center and thustend to swing the free end of the leg downwardly against the road-bed. A

shoulders thereof.

2. An automobilejack of the type set forth, a supportig lblock having means for attaching vit to a pat of the car, a prop leg pivoted to one side of said block. said prop leg being provided withgwo -ls'paced shoulders formed at the inner endthereof and said blockbeing ,provided with at projecting leg forming ya stop shoulder on each side of l*the leg to engage the shoulders on the p'rople'g to limit its down and upward move# ments, and cooperating means on the supporting block-and the prop ieg-for locking said prop'leg in its raised and horizontal position. y

3. An automobile Jack of the type set forth, a'.

supporting block havingmeans `for attaching it to a part oi' ythe car, a prop leg pivoted to one side of said block, said prop leg being provided with two spaced shoulders formedat the inner end thereof a'nd said block being provided with- IHOMAS J. TRAVIS. 

